The Federal Government has announced plans to institutionalise the Diaspora Healthcare Impact Initiative (DHII) as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system by harnessing the expertise, skills and investments of Nigerian medical professionals living abroad.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made the announcement during the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja. The event was themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.”
Tinubu said the initiative would establish a structured framework for coordinating diaspora contributions, provide incentives for returning healthcare professionals, and ensure accountability in delivering measurable improvements across the nation’s health sector.
Describing the Nigerian diaspora as one of the country’s greatest assets, the President noted that Nigerian doctors, nurses, researchers and other health professionals continue to distinguish themselves globally and remain crucial partners in national development.
According to him, the government plans to expand diaspora-led medical missions, strengthen partnerships between foreign-based experts and local teaching hospitals, promote knowledge transfer, and leverage telemedicine to improve access to specialist healthcare across the country.
He also disclosed plans to encourage diaspora investments in hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical research while strengthening the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to coordinate these initiatives effectively.
Acknowledging challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of healthcare personnel and limited research capacity, Tinubu expressed confidence that closer collaboration with diaspora professionals would help transform Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the commission has moved “from policy to impact” since its establishment in 2019, highlighting achievements in diaspora engagement, investment mobilisation and healthcare delivery.
She revealed that diaspora medical missions under the DHII have reached more than 20 states, providing maternal and child healthcare services, specialist surgeries, capacity building for local health workers, as well as medical equipment worth billions of naira.
Dabiri-Erewa also disclosed that diaspora remittances increased from $17 billion in 2019 to over $21 billion in 2025, underscoring the significant economic contribution of Nigerians living abroad. She added that NiDCOM is developing a national diaspora database while expanding programmes in education, technology and investment.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the DHII as a strategic platform that has strengthened healthcare delivery through medical missions, telemedicine, specialist surgeries, research collaborations and capacity building.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, assured Nigerians abroad that efforts to actualise diaspora voting rights were progressing and expressed optimism that the legal framework would be in place before the next electoral cycle.
He also urged diaspora professionals and investors to support the establishment of vaccine production facilities in Nigeria to reduce dependence on imported vaccines and strengthen the country’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
The 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration brought together government officials, development partners, diplomatic missions, healthcare professionals and diaspora organisations to deepen collaboration towards building a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system in Nigeria.
